Conveyer.



C. D. SEEBERGBR.

CONVEYER. APPLIOATIoN rIlLnD 11mm. 190s.` nmuzwnn JUNE 14, 1909.

984,304. Patented Feb. 14,1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOH C. D. SBEBERGER.

CONVEYEE.l

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1908. BEHEWED JUNE 14, 1909.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

e VArm/wm@ C. D. SEEBERGER.

A GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1906, BBNEWED JUNE 14, 11909.

984,304. Patent-,ea Feb.14,1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOH 'Q' .Hyg

C. D. SEEBERGER.

CONVEYER.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE z, 190e. nnnwlm JUNE 14. 1909.

984,304. Patented Feb. 14,1911.

l w/r wigs/: @l E /m/Enrof? @Afrox/Veys C. D. SEEBERGBR.

GONVBYBR.

` APPLIOATION FILED JUNE z, 190e. mmwnn JUNE 14, 1909.

984,304. Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

' /r Essfsm IN1/Ewan Z/y? @LW ATTORNEYJ 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

`CHARLES D. SEEBERGEB, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

CONVEYER.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

,Application led June 2. 1906. Serial No. 319,852. Renewed June 14, 1909. Serial No. 502,135.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that 1 CHARLES D. SEE- nERonR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers, in the count of Westchester' and State of New Yor have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to conveyers, and particularly to that type of conveyers in which a traveling footway, preferably in the form of a series of connected steps, eX- iends `nelween different levels and is adapted to carry or transport freight or passengers upon both its ascending and descending runs.

The invention has for its object generally to provide certain improvements in machines of this character, and it consists in the organizations and arrangements of parts hereinafter particularly described and then pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating an embodiment of the various features of my inventiom-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the general arrangement and disposition of a conveyer arranged in the form of a traveling footway and embodying my invention, portions of the runs being broken out for convenience of illustration; Figs. v2 and 3 are a side and a face view, respectively, on an enlarged scale, of a yielding driving connection between the upper and lower runs of the Inachine; Fig. 4 is an inner face view of one side section of the end-carriage or reverser at the bottom of the machine, and Fig. 5 a similar view of the inner face of the other section, such sections being spread apart or opened away from each other and showing the relative positions of the ends of a step; Fig. f is a central horizontal sectional view of the lower end-carriage; Fig. T is a detail view of the upperend of the 'hand-rail shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a plan :view of the construction shown in Fig. 7; ylfig. .l is a detail view in side elevation on an k.eirlarged scale particularly illustrating a take-up device that may be employed with the-.hand-rail; Fig. 10 is an end View of the same; Fig. 11 is an inner face view of one `r:section of the end-carriage or reverser at the top of the machine; Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are sectional views on the lines .fk- A, B-B,

' C-C, respectively, of Fig. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 15 is a detail View on an enlarged scale of an upthrust which may be employed with the conveyer and showing the associated step-links and driving pinion; Fig. 16 is a sectional view on the line D-D of Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a plan view of one of the steps and connecting links; and Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a hand-rail.

The footway or conveyer is adapted to travel on suitable tracks between different levels and to transport passengers or freight on both its ascending and descending runs, the numerals 16 and 17 indicating the lower tioor or level and the upper floor or level, respectively, with reference to which the conveyer is so ar 'anged as to simultaneously carrY in both directions. The footway or carrler is preferably in the form of a connected serles of steps 18 each of which is provided with the usual tread andriser. The wheel-base is provided at each end with oppositely extending arms 19 to which the front and rear wheels 2O and 21, respectively, are pivoted in different vertical planes, the wheels 21 in the present instance ,being the outer wheels. The arms of the wheel-base extend beyond the front and rear edges of the steps to form wheel-bases wider than the steps, and are inclined with reference-to each other and to such degree as to properly locate the wheels thereof on upper and lower tracks associated therewith to maintain the treads of the steps horizontal while moving on the ascending and descending runs. The step-axles 22 extend beyond or outside the wheel-base and have pivoted thereto the links 23 which connect the steps. These links, in the present case,

are in the form of rack-links, having the4 edges opposite the teeth flat, and between the links and wheel base is a contact surface which preferably takes the form of a roller 24 pivoted on the axle-bar and the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.

The footway is adapted to travel on upper and lower ways each of which is provided with upper and lower tracks 25 and 26, respectively, upon which the rear and front wheels 21 and 20, respectively, roll, and these ways extend on inclines between the levels and in horizontal planes at the levels. On the upper way, as shown in Fig. 1, the track 25 for the rear wheels crosses the track 2li adjacent to the ends of the incline so as to be located under the track 26 at the landings but above it on the incline. This ar` rangement oij the tracks is also trueof the lower way. ssuming that the upper way provides .for transportation on the ascent and the lower way on the descent, which arrangement mayof course be reversed if desired, the arrangement of the tracks 1s such that thesteps are' presented to the lower level 16 with their treadsl in the same horizontal plane to form a lower get-on orentry landing 27, then break into step-like formation as they travel upwardly 1n the 'direction of the arrow upon the inclineI portion of the upper way and again are presented with their treads in the same horizontal plane to 'form the get-0H or exit landlng 2,8

' at the upper level. Beyond theupperlandind the steps pass through a suitable endcarriage 29 by which they are reversed in direction of travel and resented with their treads in the same horlzontal plane to the entry landing 30 of the descending run, such 31 located under the upper landing 28 and `25 to which access may be had'by a suitable i stairway (not shown) from the up r landing, the entry to the ste s prefera ly being ,from either or both si es thereof. After y leaving the landing 30 the steps a ain break 3o into step-like formation on the inc ine of the` The carriage 29 at the u per end of the machine conslsts of two siml ar sections, one located at ,each side of the stairway and having its inner facek rovided with suitable tracks and a channe -guide 35 for the guide rollers24 or other equivalent device with which the ends of the axle bars of the steps may be provided, although the axl'es them- -selvesmay coperate directly with the channel guides 35 if desired. The channelguides extend through the carriage in the general form of the letter C, their ends or terminals facing or opening in the same direction and in the line of movement of the guide rollers 24 as the steps move on the tracks. Each section of the carriage 29 is provided with a track 36 which at the entrance to the carriage is in line with the horizontal portion of the track 26 at the upper. landlng and then after crossing the channel in a curve extends downwardlyoutside of the channel guide to near the bottom of4 the carriage where it terminates in an abrupt inwardly curved portion 37. The

track 36 at the point where it crosses the landing being formed at a suitable gallery l ,p @essere l from near the upper end of the carriage to the bot-tom thereof, and after forming a curve 39.substantially concentric with the curve 37 in the track 36 extends in a horizontal Idirection in line with the horizontal landingportion of the track 26 of Ythe lower way. A shorthorizontal track 40 inline with. the horizontal landing portion of the,- track 25 is located at the entrance to the carriage 29 for the rear wheels 21 which pass into engagement with avertical track 4'1 parallel with and at the inner-side of the vertical portion of the channel guide 35. The track 41 is curved at its lower end and cut-away to cross the'channel guide and terminates at the exit of the carriage in line with the'f horizontal portion 25 of the lower g1 'order to prevent slippage of the wheels andtheir striking with a blow at the bottom ofthe carriage, I provide a pressure device which increases the traction of the wheels on their tracks. p vide an adjustable track-section. In the form shown the track 41 is recessed at or near the beginning of its curve, as shown in Fig. l1, and an adjustable track-section 42 is supported in this recess by means of screw-bolts 43 which pass through threaded apertures in a, plate 44 secured to the carriage. The section 42 may be adjusted in vproper posit-ion by turning the bolts 43 j which, are then held in posit-ion by suitable the rollers 24, and by increasing the pressure of the plate 42 upon the wheels 21 the tendency is to swing the arms about the rollers 24 as pivots and to force the Wheels 20 into 'closer Contact with the tracks 38.

'This increased traction prevents the Wheels from slipping through the vertical portions ofthe carriage and thereby prevents blow of the wheels at the bottom of the carriage. In order to take up the shock of any blow which may accidentally occur I' further provide a spring section 45 located in a recess of the track 38 at its curve, as shown in Figs. 11 and 14. The section'45is ivoted at Y46 and pressed inwardly by a sprlng 47 which reacts between a stationary abutment 48 and the ivoted section. I Tie end carriage 34 at the lower end of thev machine is shown in detail in Figs. 4' and 5, and as there shown consists of two sections 49 and 50, one located at each side For .this purpose I prol of the machine and provided on the inner facethereof with suitable tracks with which j 1n anner.

thewheels of the steps coperate. The two sections may be connected and supported in any desired manner. As shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 each section of the end-carriage rests upon rollers 51. supported by tracks or ways Each section of the carriage is provided with oppositely extending rods 53 passing through suitable Aapertures in cross beams 54 whichlmay be' fixed to the supporting structure of the machine in any suitable TheA ends of the rods 53 are provided with adjustable shoulders suchl as the nuts'55, whichl are in threaded engagement with the rods, and between which and the beams are expansion springs 56. These springs are designed to be adjusted by movement of the nuts so as to counterblance each other and thereby balance the carriage. By reason of the construction described the carriage being mounted on the rollers is free to move longitudinally of the conveyor to compensate for inequalities in the motion of the latter or differences between the length of the path of travel and the length of the connected series of steps, and then be returned by the springs to its normal balanced position after such action ceases. lVhile I have shown springs for accomplishing thisI result any other suitable means may be employed as for example counterbalance weights. The carriage 29 at the upper end oit the machine may be supported and adjusted in a similar manner to the carriagelt.

The inner face of each section of the endcarriage 34 is provided with a channel-guide 57 for the guide rollers 24 or their equivalents, and which extends through the carriza'gein the general form of a letter C, its

ends or terminals facing or opening in the same direction and in the line of movement of the guide rollers 24. Each section of the :carriage 34 is also provided with a way for the adjacent outside step wheel 21 which is formed by a track 58, extending below the channel-guide at its inlet in a horizontal direction in line with thev horizontal landing viortion of its associated track 25 to substantially the rear part of the carriage where it is bent or directed upwardly, and with an associated track 59 lwhich originates at a point substantially opposite the terminal ot' the upwardly extending portion of the track 58 and continues in an' upward and inward direction to and across the channel-guide y57 under the ex'it end of which it continues in a horizontal planeto the exit of the carriage Where it connects with the horizontal landing portion of the track25 on the upper way, being cut away where it ycrosses the channel-guide to allow the projecting axles 'is the same thus `far for bothsections. The tracks fortheinside wheels 20, however,

are different.v Thev track 60 for thewheels 20 in one of the sections, as 49, is in the same l'iorizontal plane as the lower portion of the channel-guide 57 and as the way for the wheel 20 c1ossesthe clian1iel-guide.before the latter 'bends upwardly the track 60 is cut away at thc point of crossing to allow the axles 22 to pass, and then extends upwardly in a curve inside of the line of the channel guide. Atabout the terminal of the track Oasecond track 61,-oppositely spaced from the track 60, contlnues upwardly and then curves toward the outlet of the carriage in the same horizontal plane as the lower portion of the channel guide, 57 at its exit and in the 'line of the horizontal landing port-ion of the track 2.6 of the ascending run. The track 62 for the inside wheels at the opposite ends of the steps and associated with the section 50, is located at the level of the lower portion of the channel guide, and at a point above theupperportion of the channel-guide at the inlet of the latter a track 63 begins and curves upwardly as shown in Fig. 5, terminating -`in an upper portion 64 arranoed in a simllar manner to the track 61. The tracks 60 and 63 curve in the same general direction, but differ inl shown in Fig. 6.,. .The track 63 controls the' front wheels 2O of the Steps during the first part of the movement as the steps pass through the curve at the inlet end of the carriage, while the track 60 controls such wheels during the latter part of the movement through this curve. yThis willbe understood by reference to Figs. 4 and 5 where it will be seen that, as' the center of gravity is between the axle and the riser of the step, the step will have a tendency to tilt on its axle and swing the wheel.20 in the direction ot the arrow and out ofy engagement with the track (30.y At this point, which occurs where the track 60 practically coincides with an arc struck from the center of the axle lof the step, this tendency to swing and cause the wheel to skip the track, is not avoided by the track 58 as the latter at the curve is tangential tothe wheel. The skipping ot' the wheel is, however, prevented by the track (53 which is outside of the wheel and so located that the wheel is in tractional contact therewith. AS one wheel leaves the curved portion of the track 63' which then becomes `non-effective, the track 60 becomes effective ros divided by the channel-guide thereof, as

shown in Figs. 6 and 12, and the divisions.

are connected by hollow webs 65 which provide spaces toreceive the links connecting the steps outside the supporting wheels.

lt is obvious that the features involved in the present eonstructionof the end-carriage or reversers are applicable to machines carrying or transporting on only a single run or in one way as well as to duplex machines or those transporting on both runs.

The footway has been assumed in the foregoing description to ascend on its upper run. lt is obvious, however, that the directions of movementmay be reversed, in which case the upper run would be used for descending and the lower for ascending.

Power is applied to drive the conveyer by suitable sprockets one of which, 66, engages a line of rack links 23 connecting the axle bars at each end of the' steps. These sprockets are fixed, ,to a driving cross-shaft 67 suitably journaled on the supporting structure and so positioned that the sprockets engage the links near the top of the ascending line. Preferably motion is also imparted to the descending series of steps, and in order lto balance the ascending and descending series the drive for vthe descending series is driven by a connection from the drive shaft 67. To this end a shaft 68 is suitably journaled on the supporting structure and provided with sprocket wheels 69 which engage the links conneetin the descending series of steps. A vertical s aft 70 is'provided with bevel gears 71 and 72 which mesh with bevel gears 73 and 74 on the shafts 67 and 68, re-

l spectively. By this arrangement both the ascending and descending series of steps are driven positively and in unison and counterbalance each other. v The shaft 70 is preferably a sectional shaft consisting of two parts having a yielding coupling. This coupling consists in the present instance of a pair of members and 76 fixed to the abutting ends of the two parts of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 2. @ne of the members, as 76, is provided with slots 77 which are concentric with the shaft and through which-pass bolts 78 which also pass through the other member 7 5. rllhese bolts do not secure the members rigidly together, but merely serve to keep the ends of parts of the shaft alined. Une of the members, as 76, is provided with lateral lugs 79 having threaded apertures through which pass threaded bolts 80. rl`hese bolts are formed with heads 81 between which and the shoulders 82 on the member 75 are located expansion springs 83. These springs are put un er lcompression by screwing the bolts 8O in the same direction, and normally the two members are so related that the bolts 78 occupy the center of the slots 77. rlhe springs 83 are normally set to such tension as to render the shaft 70 substantially rigid, but are adapted to yield when the resisting force exceeds such tension. lVith this arrangement the sprockets may be adjusted so as to properly engage the teeth of the links connecting the steps, and in the event of shifting of the structural work of the machine in either direction by contraction or other cause, or in case of other abnormal conditions tending to cause the links to ride the sprockets, such sprockets will yield by reason o'f the yieldv ing of'the springs against which the resisting force acts so as to maintainthe sprockets in proper relation to the links. rlhe action of the driving sprockets in engagement with the links tends to lift the steps and also to turn the links upon the axles when the sprockets engage the extreme teeth thereof.v l

section which consists of a bracket 85 having an angular flange 86 and is carried by the supporting structure of the maehinfgas by the beam 87. ln the present instance the beam is provided with threaded apertures each receiving a sleeved screw 88 having a head by means of which it may be turned. A headed bolt 89 passes loosely through the sleeve and its lower end is in threaded engagement with the flange of the associated bracket 85 to fasten the bracket to the adjust-ing screw 88, and receives at its lower end a nut 90 for clamping the bracket on the bolt. As indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 16 the opening in the sleeveis slightly larger than the diameter of the boltso that the sleeve may be turned. Each bracket is provided at each side with a flange 91 having an elongated aperture 92 and bolts 93 passing through the apertures ofadjacent brackets secure the brackets together. Each bracket or section may be adjusted individually to properly position the idler thereon with reference to the step-links, by unloosening-the bolts securing the same to the adjacent brackets and then turning the sleeve. By reason o-f the arrangement described, any tendency of the links to tilt or the steps to rise is avoided by the contact of the flat upper edges of the links with the idlers, and as the latter turn freely the Wear between the upthrust and the links is reduced to a mini- I v1.* As .'thereshown the hand-rail passes `pulley around a vertical pulley 95 at the lower entry landing and after extending horizontally along the landing travels at an incline parallel with the line of movement of the steps toa similar pulley 96 located at the top of the incline. From the pulley 96 the rail passes backwardly to a take-up idler 97 under and over Which it passes to a vertical 98 which is located between the pulley 96 and idler 97. From the pulley 98 the rail passes down the incline to and under a pulley 99 and then to the pulley 95. In order to avoid interference between the return run of the hand-rail and that portion passing from the pulley 96 to the take-up idler,

' the pulley 98 is 1n a plane parallel with the pulley 96 and the idler 97 is set at such an angle as to have its lower portion in line with the pulley 96 and its upper portion in line with the pulley 98 so as to properly defleet. the rail. Any or all of the pulleys may be driven in any suitable manner to impart motion to the hand-rail.

The take-up idler may be mounted in any suitable manner so that it may'rotate -freely and yet. be capable of sliding relatively to the upper pulleys. In the present instance the shaft 100 thereof is provided with a voke 101 to which is connected a cable 102.

` This cable is secured to a drum 103 in such manner as to avoidslippage thereof as by being wound about the same, and the drum is mounted on a shaft 101 which may be supported in any suitable manner. The end of the cable beyond the drum is provided with a weight 105. The drum is provided with a ratchet wheel 106 with which cooperates a pawl 107 supported in any suitable manner and preventing backward movement of the drum. Vith this arrangement the weight takes care of the increment of the stretch of the rail, by taking up slack as the hand-rail stretches, while the ratchet device holds the aggregate of the stretch and prevents the weight from jumping back under sudden and excessive strains on the rail.

The hand-rail may be of any suitable character. In the form illustrated in Fig. 18 it consists of a plurality of separate layers `or strips 108 of suitable material, such as canvas. The hand-rail is substantially C-shape in cross-section and the edges 109 of the stripsl terminate at the cross-sectional ends of the same. The hand-rail is provided with a protecting or wear strip 110 which covers the interior of the hand-rail and also the edges of the strips so as to protect the same from wear. The hand-rail may be composed of the fabric alone, or the canvas or other fabric of the hand-rail maybe coated with, cemented together by, or em- .bedded in any suitablematerial, such as rubber, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 12, as 1s usual 1n this class of devices.

The upper end-carriage is preferably supported upon rollers 111 resting on tracks 112.

Having described'my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a device of the class described, a conveyer, and a sectional u thrust therefor'.

2. In a device of the c ass described a conveyer, and an upthrust therefor' consisting of al series of independently adjustable sections. l

3. In a device of the class described, a conveyer, and an upthrust consisting of a series' of independently adjustable rotating members. f

1. In a device of the class described, a conveyer, and an upthrust consisting of a series of adjustable idlers.

In a device of the class described, a conveyer, and an upthrnst consisting of a series of independently adjustable idlers.

(3. ln a device of the class described, a conveyor, and an npthrust therefor consisting of a series` of independently adjustable sections provided with idlers.

7. In a device of the class described, a conveyer, `ind an upthrust with which the conveyer is adapted to coperate and co1nprising an alincd series of adjustable idlers.

8. In a device of the class described, a seriesy of link-connected steps, a driving Wheel engaging the links to drive the steps, and an upthrust with which the links are adapted to coperate and consisting of a series of idlers havin the lower portions thereof in a linc para lel with the line of movement of the links.

9. In a device of the class described,a series of link-connected ste s, a driving wheel engaging the links to rive the steps, and an upthrust to counteract the lifting and tilting action of the driving wheel comprising a series of idlers, and supports for the idlers.

10. In a device of the class described, a series of link-connected steps, a driving wheel engaging the links to drive the steps, and an npthrust to counteract the liftin and tilting action of the driving Wheel and comprising a series ofidlers, and independently adjustable brackets on which the idlers are pivoted.

11. In a device of the class described, a series of link-connected steps, a sprocket engaging the links to drive the steps, and an upthrust with which the links are adapted to coperate under the lifting and tilting action. of the sprocket and comprising a series of idlers located at the opposite side of the links from the sprocket and having the and ' series 'of link-connected steps, a sprocket enaging' the links to. drive the steps, and an upthrust with'which the links are adapted to coperate under the lifting and tllting action of the sprocket and comprising a se-A ries ofgidlers having the lower portions thereof in aline arallel with the line of movement yof the inks, brackets on which. the idlers are pivoted, -a support havingthreaded apertures, and threaded sleeves engaging such apertures and fixed to the brackets Afor adjusting the same, the sides .of thebrackets being provided with elongated slots, and boltspassing through the slots of adjacent vbrackets to secure the same together.

13. A hand-rail substantially C-shape 1n cross section and consisting of a plurality of separate plies of material having the edges thereof terminating at the cross sectional ends of the hand-rail, and a wear strip covering such edges.

14.. A hand rail substantially C shape in cross section and consisting of a plurality of independent plies of material havlng the edges thereof terminating at the cross sectional ends of the rail, and a wear strip covering the interior of the rail and also the edges of the plies.

15. A` hand-rail substantially C-shape 1n cross section and consisting of a plurality of separate plies of material having the edges thereof terminating at the cross sectional ends of the rail, a wear strip covering the interior of the rail and also the edges of the plies, and a body, such as rubber, connecting the plies.

16. In a device of the class described, a moving hand-rail, means for automatically taking up the increment of stretch, and automatically acting means for holding the aggregate of stretch.

17. In a device of the class described, a traveling hand-rail, means for taking up the increment of the stretch of the rail, and a pawl and ratchet device for holding the aggregate of such stretch.

18. In a device of the class described, a

Atraveling hand-rail, a weight for taking up the increment of the stretch of the rail, and a pawl and ratchet device for holding the aggre ate of such stretch.

19. n a device of the class described, a traveling hand-rail, a take-up idler therefor,

a weight constantly acting to move the idler in one direction, and a pawl and ratchet device for preventing movement of the idler in the opposite direction.

20. In a device of the class described, a traveling hand-rail, a sliding take-up idler therefor, a cable connected to the idler and provided with a weight to move the idler in one dlrection, a drum about which the ceases the conveyor.

22. In a device of the classl described, a conveyer, and an end carnage for reversing the direction of movement of the conveyer,

and means for balancing the carriage to compensate for the pull and-pressure exerted by the conveyor. J

23. In a device of the class described, a traveling stairway, an end carriage therefor for reversing the direction of movement of the stairway, and means for maintaining the carriage ina normally balanced position.

24. In a device of the class described, an endless stairway, an end carriage for reversing the direction of movement of the stair.- way, the said carriage having an inlet and an outlet facing in the same general direction, and springs for balancing the carriage and for returning the same to its balanced position after the movement thereof by the stairway.

25. In a device of the class described, a traveling stairway, an end-carriage therefor provlded with tracks, supporting rollers on which the carriage is mounted, and opposing springs for balancing the carriage.

26. In a traveling stairway consisting of a series of wheeled steps, `an end-carriage for reversing the direction of movement of the stairway and provided with tracks to coperate with the wheels of the steps, rollers on which the carriage is supported, and springs acting in opposition to each other to hold the carriage in a normally balanced position and to return the same to such position after movement thereof under the action of the stairway.

27. In a device of the class described, a traveling stairway consisting of a series of wheeled steps, upper and lower ways for the wheels, an end-carriage connecting the upper and lower ways and provided with tracks to cooerate with the wheels of the steps, supporting rollers for the carriage,

cross beams at opposite ends of the carriage with tracks for leading the steps from one way to the other, cross beams at opposite ends of the carriage and having apertures, oppositely extending rods on each section of the carriage and passing through the apertures in the beams, adjustable shoulders on the rods and expansion springs interposed between the shoulders and the beams to hold the carriage in a normally balanced position.

29. In a device of the class described, a series of connected'sections having front and rear pairs of wheels, upper and lower ways on which the sections travel, a carriage connecting the ways and provided with tracks for the wheels, the tracks for the rear wheels being at opposite ends of the steps and facing in opposite directions inside and outside the line of movement of the rear wheels.

30. In a device of the class described, a series of connected sections having front and rear wheels, upper and lower ways on Iwhich ,the sections travel, a carriage connecting the ways and provided with tracks f for the wheels, the tracks for the rearv wheels being at opposite ends of the steps, and opposing each other inside and outside the line of movement of the rear wheels.

31. In a device of the class described, a series of connected steps'having front and rear pairs ot'wheels, upper and lower ways on which the steps travel, a carriage connecting the ways and provided with tracks for the wheels, the tracks for the real" wheels at the entrance end of the carriage being at opposite ends of the steps, and located at opposite sides of the line of movement of the wheels.

32. .Ina device of the class described, a series of connected steps having front and rear pairs of wheels, upper and lower ways on'which the said steps travel, a carriage connecting the ways and provided with tracks for the wheels, the tracks for the rear wheels having the same general curvature but-facing in opposite directions at the cntrance portion of the carriage.

33. .Inl a 'device of the class described, a 'series of steps having front and rear pairs of wheels, upper and lower ways on which the steps travel` al carriage connecting the lways and lprovided with tracks for the wheels the tracks for the rear wheels curving in the same general direction but beingr located at the opposite sides ofthe line of movement of the wheels, the wheel at 'one end of the step being in positive engagement with yits associated track at Vdiilerent points in the movement of the step through the carriage. ,p s

34, In a device of the class described, a traveling stairway consisting of a series of steps provided with axle bars, oppositely extending wheel-carrying arms on the axle bars, upper and lower ways on which the the steps coperate in passing through the carriage and tracks for the wheels. th'e tracks for the rear Wheel at one end of the step at the entrance end of the carriage being located at the opposite side of the axis ot' such wheel from the track for the wheel at the opposite end of the step, whereby one ofsuch wheels is always in tractional engagement with a track as the step passes from the horizontal upwardly through the carriage and tilting of the step on its axle is avo1ded.

35. In a device of the class described, a traveling stairway consisting of a series of link connected steps provided with axle bars, oppositely extending wheel-carrying arms on the axles, upper and lower ways on which the steps travel, a carriage connecting the ways and provided with continuous channel guides with which the axle bars cooperate in passing through the carriage, the track at the entrance portion of the carriage for the rear wheel at one end of the step being substantially concentric with that for the rear wheel at the other end of the step but located at opposite sides of the line of movement of the wheels, such tracks opposing each other and presenting 4a tractional surface for at least onel of the wheels throughout the length of the tracks to prevent overturning of the step.

36. In a device of the class described, a carriage having tracks for the leading and following wheels of the steps of a 'travelingr stairway, the track for the leading wheels having angular portions connected by a curve. and ayyielding section in the curve to receive the impact ot' the wheels.

37. In a device of the class described, a carriage having tracks for the leading and following wheels of the steps of a traveling stairway, the track for th'e leading wheels having angular portions connected by a curve. a 'yielding section in the curve to receive the impact of the lwheels,`and a 'spring pressing such section inwardly. I

38. In a device ofthe class described, a carriage having guides for the leading and following wheels ot' the steps of a traveling stairway, the guide for the leading wheels consisting of a vertical and a horizontal portion connected hy a curve and a track parallel with. the vertical portion and having acurved end facing the curved portion` and a yielding section in the curved portion.

' 39. In a device of the class described, a carriage having guides for the leading and following wheels of the-steps of a traveling stairway, the guide for the ,leading wheels consisting of a vertical and a horizontal por tion connected by a curve and a track parallel with the vertical portion and having a curved end facing the curved portion, a pivrun thereof, and a connection between such.

drive and the other run automatically adjustable under abnormal strain.

44. An endless conveyor and a normally positive driving connection between the oppositely movin runs of the conveyer, such connection yiel ing automatically under abnormal strain. j

45. An endless conveyer, and a normally positively acting sectional driving shaft between the oppositely moving runs of the conveyer automa-tical] adjustable axially in either direction un er normal strain.

46. An endless conveyer, a driving shaft imparting motion to `one run of the,con veyer, a shaft for driving the other run, and a connecting shaft adapted to yield when subjected to abnormal strain. l

47. In a device of the class described, a way, an endless stairwayl traveling ony the way, a driven sprocket engaging one `run of the stairway, a sprocket engagingthe other run, and a connection between the s Irockets v and consisting of a plurality ofaxlally adjustable sections. j f

48. In a device of the class described, a way, an endless series of connectedsteps ada ted to the way, a dri-ven transverse sha tl having a sprocket wheel engaging the step connections on one run, a transverse shaft having a sprocket wheel engaging the connections on the other run, and a shaft connecting the transverse shafts and consisting of sections axially adjustable automatically in either direction.

49. In a device of the class described, a way, an endless series of link connected steps ada ted to the'way, a pair of transverse 4sha ts each associated with 'one of the runs of the stairway and having a sprocket wheel engaging the links of such run,.and a vertical shaft connecting the transverse shafts and consisting of axially adjustable sections, and springs for resisting such adjustment. 50. In a device of the class described, a way, an endless' series of link connected steps adapted to the way, a transverse shaft associated with each run of the stairway and having sprocket wheels engaging the links of such run, a shaft having bevel gear connections with the transverse shafts, said shaft consisting of a pair of axially adjustable sections, andsprings under tension corresponding to the normal strain of the stair-` way and adapted to yield under strain in excess thereof.

51. In a device of the class described, a

way, an endless series of link connected steps traveling on the way, a transverse shaft associated with each run of the ,stairway, a Vertical shaft having bevel ear connections with the transverse sha s, `such shaft consisting of a pair ofsections, a coupling connecting the sections and consisting Y sociated with each run of the stairway, a

vertical 'shaft having bevel gear connections with the ltransverse shafts, such shaft consisting of a pair of sections, a coupling connecting'the sections and consisting of a pair of members one of which is provided with slots, and the other with bolts adapted to the slots, and springs reacting between the members to resist axial' movement thereof in either direction.

53. In a device of the class described, an endless traveling stairwa a driving sprocket associated with an engaging each run of the stairway, an axially adjustable sectional shaft between the sprockets, and means for resistin such axial adjustment corresponding to t e normal strain on the sprockets. ,l

54. In a device of the class described, an endless traveling stairway consisting of link run, 'a transverse shaft having a sprocket engaging the links on the otherrun, a 'connecting shaft having bevel gear connections with the transverse shafts and consisting'of .a sectional shaft each section of which is axion the sprocket butA yielding to strain in excess of such redetermined resistance.

55. In a device of the class described, a series or moving steps having front and rear connected sections, a transverse driven shaft having a sprocket engaging the link on one wheels, an end carriage having tracks lJtor the wheels, and means to increase the traction of the wheels on the said tracks.

56. In a device of the class described, a series of movingsteps having front and rear wheels, an end carriage having tracks for the wheels, and an adjustable track-section to increase the traction of the Wheels on the tracks.

57. In a device of the class described, a series of moving steps having front and rear Wheels, an end carriage having horizontal and Vertical tracks for the Wheels, and an adjustable track-section at or near the lower end of one of the vertical tracks.

58. In a device of the class described, a series of, moving steps having front and rear Wheels, an end carriage havin horizontal and vertical -tracks for the Whee s, means to increase the pressure of the Wheels on the vertical tracks, and means to revent blow of the wheels on the lower horlzontal track.

59. In a device of the class described, a series of moving steps having front and rear Wheels, an end carriage havin horizontal and vertical tracks for the whee s, an adjustable section in one of the vertical tracks,'.and aspring section at or near the bottom of the other vertical track.

60. In a device of the class described, a series of link-connected ste s, a driving Wheel engaging the links to rive the ste s, and a sect1onal upthrust with which t e links are adapted to coperate.

61. In a device of the class described, a series ofy link-connected steps, a driving Wheel engaging the links to drive the steps, and a sectional upthrnst to counteract the lifting and tilting act-ion of the driving wheel.

In testimong) whereof I ailix my signature in presence or two Witnesses.

CHARLES D. SEEBERGER.

Witnesses:

W. H. BRADY, EDMUND E. FIELD, Jr. 

